Lathering device.



PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.

awm/wto a T. E. BBGK.

LATHERING' DEVICE" 21.101110! FILED EAR. 2a, 1904.

N0 MODEL,

w W mw UNITED STATES Patented December 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE;

LATHERING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,719, dated December 6, 1904.

Application filed March 25, 1904. Serial No. 199,985- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE E. BECK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lathering Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved means for creating a lather and applying the same to the face preparatory to shaving. The usual method of forming a lather directly upon the face is to first moisten the board with a wet sponge, then rub the soap on the moistened beard, and then with a wet or moistened brush create the lather. The care and handling of the separate articles employed in this method is undesirable, however, and

it has been the object of my invention to combine in one article the necessary parts for creating and applying the lather. This object l accomplish by combining a piece of soap and a sponge or similar absorbent in the manner hereinafter set forth, whereby the sponge when moistened and rubbed upon the face or beard will also moisten the adjacent surface of the soap and take up sufficient of the latter by reason of its frictional contact therewith to create a .desired lather, which latter will be applied to the face by continued rubbing of the sponge thereon. After shaving is completed the sponge may be cleaned and the complete article then be inclosed in one box or closure.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lathering device embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the center of the same.

To explain in detail, 1 indicates a so-called stick of shaving-soap of any usual or suitable make; 2, a piece of absorbent material, preferably rubber sponge, located in a position at the upper end of said stick of soap and in direct contact therewith; 3, a handle, preferably formed of wood, located at the lower end of the stick of soap and having a contracted stem 3' extending into the latter, so as to effect connection therewith, and 4; an elastic connection extending centrally through the soap with its opposite ends connected, re-

spectively, with the handle 3 and with the sponge 2 and operating to retain the latter in operative contact with the soap. Such described construction and combination of parts form a lathering device which is adapted to be used in a manner as follows: The user, grasping the device by the handle 3, first moistens the sponge 2 and rubs the same over his beard, so as to wet and soften the same in the usual manner, and such rubbing being continued for amoment or two the moistened sponge dampens the adjacent surface of the soap and takes up sui'licient of the same to create a desired lather, which is applied by the continued rubbing of the sponge over the face.

A frictional engagement or rubbing of the sponge on the adjacent surface of the soap, so as to assure a lather being quickly formed, is permitted by reason of the sponge being connected only at its center with the retainingelastic 4:, thus leaving practically the entire sponge free to rub against the soap when pressed thereagainst in being rubbed over the face, and as the upper end of the soap wears away by the continued rubbing of the sponge thereagainst a continued contact between the sponge and the soap is maintained by the elastic connection 4. After the user has finished shaving the sponge may then be cleaned and the device placed in a suitable box or closure. A means for creating and applying a lather is thus provided in one complete article which can be inclosed in a box or closure of substantially the same size as that for containing the ordinary stick of shaving-soap. The advantages and desirability of such an article, particularly for traveling purposes when economy of space is necessary, are obvious.

The connection between the elastic 4 and the handle 3 may be made in any suitable manner, the connection as herein shown being ef fected by passing the elastic through a central opening in the handle and connecting the same with a suitable holding member 5, which is loosely seated within acorrespondingly-shaped recess in the under side of the handle, the said holding member, as herein shown, being in the form of an ordinary shoe-button. The elastic 4, while primarily intended for retaining the sponge in contact with the soap, will also opcrate to retain the handle in operative engagement with the soap in the event of its becoming loosened in its connection therewith.

The term sponge appearing in the claims is used in its generic sense to cover any suitable spongeous absorbent.

What I claim is 1. A lathering device, comprising a piece of soap, a sponge, and means for holding said parts in contact with each other and maintaining such contact as the soap Wears away.

2. A lathering device, comprising a piece of soap, a sponge, and means for yieldingly holding said parts in contact With each other and maintaining such contact as the soap wears away.

3. A lathering device, comprising a piece of soap,a sponge, and means connecting with said THEODORE E. BECK.

Witnesses:

CHAs. F. DANE, E. M. FAITH. 

